FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Even after three years and 22 games as a professional athlete, former Fairfield standout Nikki Stanton hasn't lost that same childlike emotion every time she puts on the Sky Blue FC blue and white uniform.
“The excitement is still there as ever,” Stanton said. “I wake up every day and get to do what I love, you can't beat that.”
“Nikki has shown a huge amount of development this season,” Sky Blue FC Head Coach Christy Holly said. “Over the last number of years at Sky Blue FC, I have had the privilege of working very closely with Nikki. Her technical side of the game is something she has pushed to the next level, and her tactical understanding is right on par with the rest of the players within the team, which gives her a fantastic opportunity to impact games. This is all a testament to her first-class attitude and her desire to push herself to the next level.”
Anyone who has ever come across Stanton: whether from her early days playing soccer, through her years at Fairfield, or now in her time at Sky Blue, has probably heard the nickname, 'Guti.' It's a nickname she has shaped her tough personality into. If you ask her name, she will probably refer to herself with that name. It's a title she earned at a very young age, and of course it was on the soccer field. She was the smallest player on the field by a foot in height, and the youngest as well, playing up two age groups. But Stanton always possessed a tough demeanor and she would push down the older players and they would often respond, “don't push me.” Even at that young age she would turn to them and say, “Get Used To It.” The abbreviation stuck and she has been telling the opposition the same sentence as she has risen through the soccer ranks.
That determined demeanor has brought her to the top professional soccer league in the United States. As a member of New Jersey based Sky Blue FC, she has the privilege to call players she admire in former US women's national team captain Christie Rampone and current women's national team member Kelley O'Hara teammates. And she has now has other notable players to defend, just like in those early days on the soccer field.
“The best experience so far in my professional career was last season when my coach called me into his office and told me I would be marking Carli Lloyd,” Guti said. “At that moment I thought to myself 'wow, look how far you've come.' It was a really neat feeling to be on the same pitch as these players.”
Lloyd, the 2015 FIFA Player of the Year, who plays for the Houston Dash, did not score in the 2-0 Sky Blue victory.
As she gains more experience in the NWSL, Stanton's role continues to grow. She has made seven starts, four this season, and even secured the 'Pine Belt Player of the Match' honors in a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit this season. In that July 23rd match, Stanton earned the start in the absence of Sarah Killion and Raquel Rodriguez.
“It shows how hard work pays off,” Stanton explained. “We have an extremely talented midfield so to get the start and get 'Player of the Match' just shows the competition we have on our team and at this level. Obviously I want to make the starting lineup consistently and nothing beats the feeling of my first start last year in Portland in front of 15,000 fans. But I'm always excited to help the team wherever I am needed and whenever I am needed. I also knew it would happen eventually because I know I've put in the work and want to continue working hard!”
“Nikki is a huge asset to the team, not only on the field but also off the field,” Coach Holly said. “She has a very bubbly personality, and that is something that everyone here feeds off. On the field, she blends in very well with all of these players because she is an extremely accomplished player herself. She deserves a ton of credit because she does a lot of the dirty work on the field, which allows other players to shine throughout the games. Nikki is a very important piece to our jigsaw for success.”
As her experience increases, Stanton has seen not only her playing time rise, but also her talent develop. If the hard work she commits day after day is any indication, the members of the NWSL might just have to get used to it.
